New Blooming Grove law would restrict usage of ATVs

John Sullivan 

BLOOMING GROVE — They tear up people's lawns, shatter the peace with the howl of their motors and show little to no respect for property boundaries, according to town officials.

And now Blooming Grove is cracking down on all-terrain-vehicle users.

A proposed law awaiting a vote by the Town Board would regulate where and when ATV users can operate, as well as impose fines and penalties for violators, Supervisor Charlie Bohan said.

The law comes after years of tolerating riding enthusiasts, who have used the vast backyards and the back woods of this still-rural part of Orange County as a playground, Bohan said.

Police have tried cracking down, but with little luck, as operators nimbly speed off into the woods and onto trails where patrol cars can't follow.

"Unless you're on the same kind of vehicle, you can't catch them," Bohan said.

It doesn't take a careful reading of the law to see that it is intended to discourage riding as much as possible. Among the prohibitions, ATV users cannot enter public parks or woods without a town permit, ride on private property without written consent from owners, do stunts, kick up dirt, bother domestic or wild animals or ride on public streets.

They are also restricted from riding between 9 p.m. to 7 a.m., and from riding within 300 feet of a house, except if it's the house of the rider.

"That's basically saying 'Don't even take your four- wheeler out of the garage,' " said Tony Poli of Monticello, president of the Sullivan County ATV Association and regional delegate for the New York State Off-Highway Recreational Vehicle Association.

Police can impound an ATV rider for violating any of the restrictions, as well as if the owner lacks identification or is involved in an accident that causes property damage, injury or death, according to the proposed law.

Poli said such laws arise mostly in reaction to a few bad riders. Still, he did not expect a challenge to the law in Blooming Grove, which is similar to others around the region.

"There's really nothing you can do," he said.

Source: http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090613/NEWS/906130329/-1/SITEMAP

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